Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 2001

Main Issues: Damage to architecture through earthquake and impact of proposed shopping centre.

New information: To respond to concerns raised over the planned construction of a shopping centre with possible impact on the World Heritage values of the site, the State Party submitted a report and requested an ICOMOS advisory mission, which is currently being organised.

Furthermore, the World Heritage Centre received a report on the damages caused by the earthquake that shook Central America on 13 January 2001. The tremors aggravated damages already suffered in 1976 and caused moderate damage but heightened the danger of collapse for some of the buildings. The report shows that an inventory of the damages has been elaborated, as well as a budget estimate for repair and consolidation works. The World Heritage Centre has recently received a request for international assistance that is being processed.

Action Required

The Bureau may wish to examine information that will be provided / may be available at the time of its session and take the appropriate decision thereupon.

Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2001

The State Party is reviewing the report of the ICOMOS monitoring mission, which visited the site earlier this year, in order to give its comments.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2001

Adopted

Draft Decision

25 BUR V.246-247

Antigua Guatemala (Guatemala)

V.246 The World Heritage Centre informed the Bureau that it had received a report on the damage caused by the earthquake that struck Central America on 13 January 2001. The tremors aggravated damage already experienced in 1976 and caused moderate damage but heightened the danger of collapse for some of the buildings. The Centre is currently discussing an emergency assistance request with the State Party.

V.247 ICOMOS reported on the results of an expert mission, which evaluated the impacts of the construction of a shopping centre on the property’s universal values, as well as its general state of conservation. The Advisory Body informed the Bureau that the building project was definitely suspended, but indicated that there were more general legislative problems, as well as pressures due to tourism and development. The lack of a buffer zone was also highlighted. The efforts of the State Party to address these problems were commended. The complete report will be submitted to the State Party for comment by the 15 September 2001 to be reported to the twenty-fifth extraordinary session of the Bureau.

* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).